Infrastructure backlog looms as KwaZulu-Natal Public Works halts projects for departments that owe it money
Image: Doctor Ngcobo/ Independent Media
The KwaZulu-Natal Public Works and Infrastructure has announced that it will not carry out projects for sister departments until they pay money owed to the department.
The move which may create an infrastructure backlog, particularly in Health and Education departments was announced by Public Works and Infrastructure MEC Martin Meyer in a sit-down interview on Tuesday.
Explaining his department's decision, Meyer said it is a known policy in government and it was important for his department to apply it as it is affecting the department's financial standing in the Auditor-General's report. Meyer cited the sister departments' failure to pay his department as a reason for getting a qualified audit outcome this financial year. He said that as a result of the non-payment by sister departments, his department was failing to pay contractors on time- something that is beyond his control.
"Inter-departmental accounts are still an intricate and thorny issue that is unsettling. This cannot be the norm and cannot continue as is. In the 2025/26 financial year, the department will only accept new projects requests from client departments by considering progress made on settlement of claims. This aims to ensure that the department does not continue with new projects where there is a backlog on unpaid claims,' said Myer.
He said said the total value of outstanding payments to the department stood at a staggering R737.4 million. This severely hindered other financial obligations that must be honored by his department and he said records pointed to the fact that, there was a single client with an outstanding debt calculated in the region of R426,4 million, which accounted for 64% of the total debt.
'We are happy to say that as of the 10th of February 2025, through implemented measures, we have received over R71 million in payments, with more coming. We extend a word of appreciation to those who have paid us. To those who are yet to do so, we would encourage you to come forward and talk to us about a possible solution' said Meyer.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
IOL News
7 hours ago
- IOL News
Minister De Lille champions youth-driven transformation in Tourism Month launch
Minister of Tourism Patricia de Lille has unveiled this year's Tourism Month campaign. Image: Ayanda Ndamane/Independent Media Minister of Tourism Patricia de Lille, who, on Wednesday, launched this year's tourism month campaign during a media event held at Sakhumzi restaurant in Johannesburg, has called for the total transformation of the industry to create sustainable jobs for young people. The minister's address comes just a day after the Statistician General, Risenga Maluleke, announced South Africa's second quarter 2025 jobs data which revealed that 60% of industries in the country bled jobs in the second quarter of the year. This has triggered strong criticism from political parties and organised labour, with calls for urgent economic reforms, job creation programmes, and government accountability. "Transformation must be bold, inclusive, but it must be youth-driven. Transformation also calls for us to work together with both big and small businesses, who must benefit from the transformation process. "The tourism sector has the potential to create jobs for young people, which is why we must work together. Last year, the tourism industry reported 1.8 million jobs, and has the potential to deliver even more jobs if we focus on long-term solutions and we have our own transformation fund where we have committed millions to black and women-led enterprises," the minister said. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Under the theme: "Tourism and Sustainable Tourism", this year's celebrations have been earmarked to honour and celebrate South Africa's rich culture, heritage, and travel experiences, ahead of the tourism month, which kicks off officially in September. The minister's sentiments were echoed by her deputy, Maggie Sotyu, who said, despite the many challenges in the sector, the ministry is prepared to do everything to realise the true transformation of this important economic contributor. "Our commitment to tourism is more than standards, but raising tourism across South Africa and all sectors. When we talk about transformation, we must talk about community-based tourism, as it changes lives where we are. It is where visitors connect directly with our people and our cultures and we must be encouraged to be players in this sector," she said.
IOL News
8 hours ago
- IOL News
Tshwane Mayor pledges compliance after court ruling on fresh produce market
City of Tshwane Mayor Nasiphi Moya has committed to revitalising Tshwane's fresh produce market after high court ruling. Image: Oupa Mokoena/Independent Media Tshwane Mayor Nasiphi Moya has pledged to upgrade Tshwane Fresh Produce Market after a Gauteng High Court ruling threatened imprisonment for her and city manager Johann Mettler if they fail to comply with the October 2022 court order, requiring the city to provide essential services to the facility. The court's decision, issued on Monday, stems from the City of Tshwane's non-compliance with an October 2022 order to invest R18 million in the market's maintenance and provide essential services. The aggrieved party, the Institute of Market Agents of South Africa (IMASA) approached the high court in Pretoria seeking an order that the city be found in contempt of the 2022 ruling. Judge Mmonoa Teffo blasted the city for failing to comply with the court order, handing down a suspended 30-day jail sentence to the municipal manager and executive mayor, pending a year without further non-compliance. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad loading The city was also ordered to submit a comprehensive renovation plan for the market premises within 30 days, which includes the installation and repair of fire and smoke detection devices, electrical connections, facilities, security, lifts, sanitation and refuse removal facility. In her judgment, Judge Teffo highlighted that the city's own timeline for addressing fire and smoke detection compliance issues revealed a significant delay. The city claimed to have appointed a service provider in August 2023, conducted an assessment in October 2023, and planned to issue a purchase order by November 2023. 'I agree with the applicant's submission that by so saying the first respondent admits that it has not implemented this project before June 2023,' Judge Teffo said. In court papers, the city cited financial constraints as the reason for delaying electrical connectivity and facility compliance upgrades, pushing the project to the 2024/2025 financial year or later. The court ruled that the city misallocated funds by using money designated for replacing evaporator coils in ripening rooms to purchase forklifts instead. According to the ruling, the city's expenditure on new public lights was not transparent, as it included unaccounted-for expenses in the R10 million Capex budget, without justification. Reacting to the ruling, Moya said while this matter predates the current administration, it reflects a legacy of challenges that have limited the market's potential as a driver of inclusive economic growth. 'We affirm our respect for the court's decision and our commitment to comply fully with its requirements. In doing so, our approach will be collaborative, with a focus on delivering sustainable improvements that benefit all market users,' she said. She highlighted the importance of working constructively with key stakeholders, including IMASA, market traders, and others, to address the challenges and restore the market's status as a leading agricultural hub. 'To this end, we will be reaching out to IMASA to arrange a constructive engagement in the interest of moving forward together,' she said. Freedom Front Plus councillor in Tshwane Grandi Theunissen welcomed the ruling, saying: 'It is regrettable that the Mayor and City Manager had to be compelled to take action by a court order.'
IOL News
10 hours ago
- IOL News
Infrastructure delays cost R444. 7 million, reveals Minister Macpherson
Public Works and Infrastructure Minister Dean Macpherson says his department has instituted firm measures to hold non-performing contractors accountable. Image: Henk Kruger / Independent Newspapers Public Works and Infrastructure Minister Dean Macpherson has revealed that 57 infrastructure projects have incurred delays, leading to total cost overruns of R444.7 million over the past three years. The overruns are broken down as follows: R110.8 million in 2022/23, R64.3 million in 2023/24, and R269.6 million in 2024/25. This emerged when he was responding to parliamentary questions asked by EFF MP Sharon Letlape, who asked about the actions the department has taken to hold the contractors and implementing agents accountable, among other things. According to Macpherson, his department has instituted firm measures to hold non-performing contractors accountable. 'The defaulting contractors have been terminated or are in the process of being restricted, and legal letters of demand have been issued.' Contractors have had their contracts terminated for non-performance, and he named at least six. Legal proceedings have also been initiated against multiple service providers, including five he mentioned. 'These cases are currently with legal services and the Office of the State Attorney for recovery of financial damages,' he said. Macpherson said there was also blacklisting or recommendations for blacklisting of affected contractors. However, no implementing agent was directly responsible for the majority of project delays except for the Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA) in two instances. Macpherson said two contractors appointed under DBSA were terminated due to non-payment. The minister said the department has introduced several interventions to strengthen infrastructure delivery and avoid recurrence of inefficiencies. These included the establishment of internal units designed to professionalise and centralise oversight over planning and execution of infrastructure programmes, and a contractor development programme geared to improving the skills and capacity of emerging contractors to meet delivery standards. There is also a dedicated panel of pre-approved contractors that was being established to enable swift appointment where poor performance or termination occurs. Also in place were improved legal action and recovery processes. Macpherson also said stronger collaboration between legal services and the State Attorney was now yielding a pipeline of recovery litigation and summonses against defaulting contractors. The minister further said 38 construction projects had been delayed or halted in the past five years. 'The department is monitoring key construction projects that have experienced delays or have been halted. Notable examples include the Mamelodi Magistrate's Court, the Sarah Baartman Centre of Remembrance, and the Queenstown (Komani) police station.' He cited underperformance by certain contractors, which prompted the department to take corrective action, as the primary reasons for the delays.
